After more than a seven-year court battle, the City of Laurel is set to annex the Pendorff Community and some areas around it.
City Attorney Deidre Bassi along with Chad Mask with Slaughter & Associates Law Firm has been handling the annexation case for the city.
Mask said this week that the final steps are being made for the city to officially annex the proposed property. Today is the last day for the opponents to request a rehearing. Therefore, without a rehearing,
October 25th is the day city services are to begin in the annexed area.
“This is congratulations to the City of Laurel,” he said. “The final day that anyone can file a motion for a rehearing is Thursday (today). So with no motion for a rehearing that means the city wins.”
Mask said with no motion for a rehearing, the Supreme Court should issue the official ruling on October 15th and 10 days later is when the City of Laurel must begin providing services to the annexed area.
The City of Laurel filed the annexation paperwork with the courts in 2013.
“It all started in 2013,” Laurel Mayor Johnny Magee said. “The City of Laurel wanted to annex the Pendorff Community, a small part that was in the City of Ellisville, and a portion of State Street, Sandy Lane and the Clarke Dirt Pit Road off Wansley Road.
Mask said the case, which was appealed about two years ago by a group of people in the Pendorff Community, ended up in the Mississippi Supreme Court. The court heard arguments on the case and has
now ruled on the case.
“It was appealed to the Supreme Court and it took them two years to hear the case,” the mayor said.
“They heard the case and ruled unanimously last week in the city’s favor.”
Mayor Magee said the annexation is good for the city and those coming into the city. “It’s going to be good for all,” the mayor said. “This will be an improvement in their quality of life.”
Officials said as a part of the annexation, those people coming into the city will begin to see some immediate benefits. Mask said October 25th is the date that things change.
“When the annexation becomes effective, we have to start providing services that day,” he said. “On Sunday, October 25th, the Laurel Police Department and the Laurel Fire Department need to provide
services.”
One of the other immediate benefits for those being annexed into the city is the city’s current fire rating.
“Pendorff and the other area around them are in the Class 10 Fire Rating,” Mask said. “On the day the annexation becomes final, they immediately get the insurance rating of the city, which is a Class Five. So, all they have to do is call their insurance company and request the reduction in their fire rating and get a discount on their insurance.”
Mask also reminded city officials about some things they will need to do to meet the requirements of the annexation.
Mask said while the city must immediately begin providing public service to the newly annexed area, the courts give the city some time to meet all water and sewer requirements.
“The city has five years to provide water and sewer,” he explained. “You have to do zoning and planning, which also takes time.”
He also told city officials they have to begin looking at redistricting the city.
City officials asked if the city would need to redistrict before the census data is available.
Mask said yes. He said the city must begin the redistricting process now and then “just tweet it when the other data is received.”
Officials said the Pendorff Community Area being annexed includes approximately 750 people not including those in the outlining area.
Mayor Magee said, “the Secretary of State’s Office says the people have a right to vote in the (city’s upcoming) June election.”
Because of this, the Laurel City Council this week approved an agreement for professional services of a redistricting plan for the city resulting from the recent Pendorff Annexation Court Decision.
According to city documents, the City of Laurel is required by law to have fair and proper representation for its seven-city wards and council positions.
As a result of the recent court decision regarding the Pendorff Annexation Case, the City of Laurel has obtained a proposal for redistricting services from Slaughter & Associates to develop a redistricting plan for the City of Laurel.
This week the City of Laurel is entering into an agreement with Slaughter & Associates for professional services about the city’s redistricting plan, at a cost of between $9,000-$12,000. Also, the mayor
is being given the authority to sign the agreement between the city and Slaughter & Associates.
The council also authorized the city’s finance director to make all necessary budget amendments to the FY 2021 Budget to cover the redistricting plan cost.
“You will be doing a lot of legal matters and updating your comprehensive plans,” Mask explained. “All the wards (in the city) are going to be tweeted.”
Laurel City Council President Tony Thaxton said “we asked for it, and now we got it.” Magee said overall the annexation of the Pendorff area will be a plus for all, adding that “It’s a good thing to be a part of the City of Laurel.”